Improvement in tables



2 S11 eetsSheet1.' 0. C. WOOLSON.

TABLE.

Patented Fe.b.15,1876.

mvzmos N PEFERS, FHOYO-LITNOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D, O.

UNITED STATES" PATENT QFFIGE.

OROSOO G. WOOLSON, OF GHICOPEE, MASSACHUSETTS.

- IMPROVEMENT lN TABLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 173,706, dated February 15, 1876; application filed December 18, 1875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Onosoo O. WooLsoN,

of Ohicopee, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tables for Draftsmen and others, of which the following is a specification This invention relates to drawing-tables and other work tables or stands, of that form in which the table top or desk of each is supported by a tripod or equivalent low base usually furnished with casters, a central connecting-column, which rises from the base, being extended to' the required height, or made ad- 'justable, as. preferred.

The first part of the present invention consists in the provision of a foot-rest, which may "time, to steady the table, and serving, also, in connection With casters, to provide for readily turning and otherwise moving the table by means of the feet, when the top is liable to displacement, as in adjustable tables or stands, or is rendered inaccessible by the drawing board or work, or when the hands are otherwise occupied.

The second part of the invention relates to the construction of this foot-rest and its accommodation; and consists, first, in the em- "ployment of a sectional platform adapted to be made removable, or to be applied to a table.

or stand already in use; second, in the comblnation of a removable platform and folding- 'supports therefor, to provide for converting the table or stand for other uses; and, third, in' the provision of the central column with vertical grooves and a drop-collar to receive and retain the members of the folded support so as to preserve the symmetry of the structure.

The third part of this invention relates to the means employed for making such tables orstands adjustable; and consists in the provision of an adjusting-screw within a tele scopic column, said screw being embraced by a nut at the bottom of the moving part, andswiveled and provided with a hand-wheel beneath" the column. This adapts the table top and 5.

or desk to be readily and safely raised or lowered by a lady or child. I

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an adjustable and convertible drawing table, illustrating this invention,.one-half being shown in section. Fig. 2 isa plan view of the lower portion of the same on a reduced scale, as converted for ordinary use. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the lower portion of the table, as shown in Fig. 2, on the same scale.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of two sections of the removed platform,

showing a plan and an edge view on the same' scale as Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is an elevation of three foot-rest fastenings on a larger scale, showing a plan and two edge views. Fig. 5 represents a section at 5 5, Fig. 1, on the same scale as Fig. 5. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section at 6 6, Fig, 1, on'the same scale as Figs. 5 Fig. 7 is a side elevation of another drawing-table, illustrating the application of the foot-rest thereto. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section at 8 8, Fig. 7, showing a plan view of the foot-rest on a smaller scale.

Like reference-numbers indicate correspondin g parts in the several figures.

The construction of the improved table in its preferred complete form is illustrated on Sheet 1.

A table top or desk, 1, is attached to the upper end of a telescopic column 2, 3, from the lower end of which four curved legs, 4, spring to form a low supporting-base, and these terminate in casters 5. The column and legs are iron castings; the latter being cast in one piece with the hub portion 4, which unites them and receives the lower end of the column. The casters which complete the base are attached by screws, as shown in section in Fig. 1. Above this base, when the table is in its principal use, a foot-rest, 7, is formed around the column at convenient height, as shown in Fig. 1. The platform of the footrest in the illustration is circular,and

is composed of four removable sections, 9, two of which are shown in Fig. 4. To support these in position, radial arms 10 are hinged to the hub of the base above the legs 4, and props 11 are hinged within recesses in said arms, on pintles at their outer ends, so as to open downward into vertical position beneath the arms, as shown.

Hinge-lugs 12 are cast on the base-hub 4, at the upper extremity of each leg for attaching the arms 1.0, and a socket, 13,-is formed on the top of each foot to receive the lower ends of the props 11. A strong horizontal support is thus formed, on which the platform-sections 9 are placed with their radial edges resting on the arms 10. Buttons 14', constructed as shown in Fig. 5, are attached to the bottom of each section for fastening the sections in place. Each button has a thumb-wing, 15, by which to turn it, a wing, 16, at top to engage with a notch, 16, Fig. 5 in the adjoining arm to prevent the radial displacement of the section, and a wing, 17, at bottom, to engage beneath the arm to hold the section down. A circumferential flange, 18, on the base portion 3 of the column, masks and supports the edges of the sections at the middle of the platform. The removed .platformsections are laid away in a convenient place. To accommodate the members of the folding support, four longitudinal grooves, 19, of the required dimensions, are formed in the sides of the base portion 3 of the column, so as to coincide with the hinge-lugs 12 on the base, from which they extend upward the length of the arms 10. These receive the arms with their props 11 folded within them. To retain the folded arms 'within the grooves 19, a drop-collar, 20, is "provided. A screw-stud or pin, 21, in combination with a bayonetgroove in the collar, supports the latter in elevated position while the arms are being folded. A slight turn'of the collar then releases it, and it drops below the extremities of the arms, which are reduced so as to facilitate this, as shown. The surfaces of the arms and props thus exposed are made flush with the adjoining parts, and harmoniously finished; projections formed on the arms complete the flange 18, while notches match the contraction beneath the flange, and

the drop-collar presents the appearance of an ornamental bead. The compacted table consequently presents a neat appearance, as indicated in Fig. 3, and the convertible feature is rendered inconspicuous. These characteristics are preserved when the foot-rest is in use. The grooves 19, (finished inside,) alternating with the ordinary depressions 22, to reduce weight, present a pleasing appearance; the drop-collar appears as before, and the lower ends of the grooves are filled, and the appearance of the flange 18 continued by projections 18, Fig. 4, on the platform-sections .9, as shown in Fig. 1.

To provide for applying mechanical power to raise and lower the top through the upper and moving part 2 of the telescopic column,

the lower end of this part is made hollow, and

' the cavity of the base part '3 is extended downward through the hub 4*, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. An axial rotary screw, 23, is thus accommodated. The threaded upper end of this screw enters the hollow lower end of the moving part of the column through a nut portion, 24, at its lower extremity. The

screw is supported and swiveled at its lower end by means of a cap, 25, screwed into the or its equivalent, may prevent the rotation of said moving part of the column 'and limit its longitudinal movement.

The rotation of the top 1 independent of the base is permitted by a swivel, 28, at the upper end of the column. This is furnished with a clamping-screw, 29, which normally projects into a groove in the column so as to prevent the top from being lifted off accidentally, and can be retracted so as to permit the removal of the top, but serves primarily to clamp the rotary part of the swivel when the top has been turned to a position in which it is to be used for some time, (the base being kept stationary by the feet on the foot-rest,) or to lock the swivel when the top is to be turned by thefeet through the medium of the foot-rest and column. An ordinary clamphinge, 30, unites the rotary part of the swivel 28 to the metallic backing 31 of the top 1, which'is by preference wooden. This hinge provides for adjusting the top to any desired angle, and the usual lip 32 prevents the drawing-board and other things from slipping ofi the inclined top. This lip may be fixed or removable so as to provide for completing the conversion of the table for other uses.

Thus converted, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, with the top fixed in horizontal position and lowered, a most excellent card-table or small table for any use whatever, is formed.

On Sheet 2 the application of a fixed or permanent foot-rest, 7", according to this invention, to a table already in use, is illustrated. The foot-rest platform is in this modification composed of two wooden sections, 9 which are united and supported by transverse and circumferential cleats 10 10 applied to its bottom, and vertical legs 11 resting on the feet of the tripod-base. The adjustable drawing-table shown on this sheet forms no part of the present invention, and need not, therefore, be particulary described. The foot-rest may in other modifications be made in'one part, and of iron or other suitable material instead of wood, if preferred. It may also be made of any desired shape, as regards outline, without materially affecting its utility.

The following is claimed as new andof this invention, namely- 1. A table having a foot-rest platform, as herein illustrated and described, in combination with a low supporting-base and a central platform-support, in the manner herein set column, said platform extending around the the column on or above the low base, for the purpose specified.

2. The removable platform-sections 9, in combination with their foldingsupport 10 11, substantially as shown and described.

3. The locking-buttons 14, having lips 16 17, as described, in combination with the re movable platform-sections 9, and the horizontal supporting-arms l0 beneath them, substantially as set forth.

4. The vertical grooves 19 in the sides of the column and the drop-collar 20 at the top of the same, combined as described, for receiving and retaining the members of the folded forth.

5. The axial rotary screw 23 within the telescopic column,in combination with the nut 24 at the bottom of the moving part 2, and the supporting and swiveling cap and handwheel 25 26 at its lower end, for raising and lowering the top 1, in the manner specified.

6. The combination of the top 1, the swivel 28 29, the central column 2 3, the low base 4 4 with its casters 5, and a foot-rest, 7, on or above this base, substantially as herein illustrated and described, to form a table, the top of which can be readily moved by the feet, or independently rotated by the hands, if desired, as herein set forth.

0. O. WOOLSON.

Witnesses:

OCTAVIUS KNIGHT, OHAs. J. Gooon 

